Special Edition: The Opioid Epidemic

HRSA sent this bulletin at 04/11/2018 11:46 AM EDT

April 11, 2018 SPECIAL EDITION: The Opioid Epidemic

Welcome to this Special
Edition Digest focused entirely on the opioid epidemic. This edition provides culled
and vetted resources listed in one place, to help you meet the challenges of
providing substance use disorder (SUD) services in your communities, which are
at the frontlines of the epidemic. We have also identified some (we know there
are more) promising practices, to share across health centers.

With the declaration of the opioid
epidemic as a public health emergency, HRSA continues to support health centers
to enhance access to primary care-based SUD services, including medication
assisted treatment (MAT), as well as pain management and other prevention services.
In addition, HRSA is collaborating across HHS and other government agencies to
help address issues that affect health centers’ delivery of SUD services, such
as reimbursement, policies, regulations and research.

This Health Center SUD Services diagram depicts HRSA’s approach to addressing the opioid epidemic. Please visit HRSA’s brand new opioid webpage that highlights the various ways in which the agency is addressing the opioid crisis.

We know it is challenging to provide SUD services in a primary care setting. To improve our understanding, HRSA held an addictions services listening session at the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) Community Health Institute in August, 2017 and a health center clinicians listening session at the NACHC Policy and Issues Forum in March, 2018. Information from these listening sessions, as well as feedback from other health centers and stakeholders, informs the development of HRSA policies and programs. We want to better assist you with the real-life challenges of being at the frontlines of the opioid epidemic.

Thank you to the highlighted health centers
for disseminating their promising practices and aiding in peer-to-peer
learning. Please email me to share your promising practices and save this
e-mailfor easy reference in the future.

Health centers are an essential part of
our nation’s health care system. On behalf of the entire staff of the Bureau of
Primary Health Care, thank you for everything you do!

PCSS Coaching/Mentoring Program.A SAMHSA-sponsored service that gives
providers guidance on prescribing OUD medications. This national network of experienced
providers is available at no cost. Mentors provide support by telephone, email,
or in person if possible.

Telehealth

Telehealth Resource Centers (TRCs).HRSA-sponsored,provides assistance, education, and information to organizations
and individuals who are actively providing or interested in providing health
care at a distance, website with TA and Training, and access to 12 regional and
two national TRCs.